HOME OFFICE News
Release (127/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 9 July 2008
A pledge to
increase the conviction rate for rape by ensuring a consistent
police response will be made today by Home Office Minister Vernon
Coaker and the Association of Chief Police Officers' John
Yates at a conference attended by forces from across the country.
Five percent of all women have experienced rape but only 15
percent report it to the police, according to the British Crime
Survey. Of those that do report it, 70 percent of cases are lost
before the case makes it to court. Overall the conviction rate for
all rapes reported to the police is around six percent.
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
"Rape is one of the most serious and devastating crimes. We
know that it remains under-reported and we are determined to
improve this and increase the conviction rate.
"We have made great progress. Specially trained officers and
prosecutors now operate in every area, training and guidance for
the police has been updated and a team of experts have visited
every force to put together tailored action plans. The challenge
now is to keep up the focus on this work and ensure that the
policies and procedures that have been developed are being
implemented consistently.
"Every force has a responsibility to ensure that every
single officer who comes into contact with a rape victim is
supportive and believes the victim. It may only take the raising
of an eyebrow to cause her to lose courage."
John Yates, Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police
Service and ACPO lead on rape said:
"Every inspection and review in recent years has agreed that
in the UK we have great examples of best practice and some of the
best training in the world available to those investigating rape.
In recent years we have made significant advances in the way we
approach investigation of this difficult offence, but despite
that, delivery remains inconsistent and there is much more to do.
"Rape is a uniquely difficult crime to investigate. Most
cases involve people who know each other where consent is the
issue. But the fact that it's difficult means we need to up
our game and redouble our efforts to ensure victims can have
confidence in the way they are approached by those working in the
criminal justice system.
"My task is ensure colleagues across the country recognise
the challenges and devote the proper resources to meeting them. We
are determined to ensure the best possible standards are reached
and applied uniformly across the country."
Tackling rape goes much wider than improving police performance
and the Government is working to ensure that victims are supported
throughout the entire criminal justice process. The Government has
spent a total of £10 million over four years to supplement local
funding, on:
* Extending the network of Sexual Assault
Referral Centres (where victims receive medical care and
counselling and can assist the police investigation through a
forensic examination). There were five in 2001, currently there
are 19 and there will be at least 36 by the end of the financial
year 2008-09;
* Piloting Independent Sexual Violence Advisors
in 38 areas to provide advocacy and support for victims; and
*
Providing funding through the Victims Fund for voluntary
organisations supporting victims of sexual violence.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. On 18 February 2008, The
Government's Saving Lives, Reducing Harm Protecting the
Public: Tackling Violence Action Plan was published - the first of
its kind to focus on serious violence. It set out what the
Government, together with police and local agencies, will do over
the next three years to cut homicide, knife crime, gun and
gang-related crime and sexual and domestic violence and included a
commitment to driving forward work to improve the investigation
and prosecution of rape. More details can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/violent-crime-action-plan-08/
2. In addition, the Government's Public Service Agreements
(PSAs) for 2008-11 include commitments to prioritise action to
tackle the most serious violent and sexual offences: http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/crimereduction020.htm